Sealing-press



(No Model.)

.E. J. BRUCE. SEALING PRESS.y

No. 440,417. Patented Nov. 11', 1890. A

m MM*- f HHHIII XM @nueva/coz Nrrnn STATES PATENT FFC.

ERVIN J. BRUOH, OF VEST BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEALING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,417, dated November11, 1890.

Application liled May 7, 1889.

.To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERWIN J. BRUCH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Test Bethlehem, in the county of Lehigh and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented eertain new and useful lmprovements inSealinglresses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to that class of sealing-presses used insealing metallic seals to freight-cars, baggage, &c., to prevent thecontents from being tampered with.

The main features ot my improved sealingpress consist in twolever-handles pivotally united with a spring-arm between them carryingon its free end a seal-die, which is arranged to be impressed on astationary die seated rigidly in the rigid jaw of the lower lever.

I have fully illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved sealing-press. Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view, the 4position of the levers beingshown as opened or raised ready to grasp the seal. Fig. 3 is a View ofthe clamping-lever detached. Fig. 4 is an end view.

A denotes what for the purpose of specilic designation may be called thelower jaw7 and handle.7 This consists of a properlyformed handle l,formed at its sealing end with a rigid jaw 2, having a die-seat 3, inwhich. is secured the stationary die 4. This die may be xed in itsposition on the rigid jaw by means of a threaded stem 5,1etintoathreaded hole in the jaw,substantially as shown in the drawings. Thismeans for attaching the die makes it secure in its seat, and at the sametime it may be detached and replaced by a new one. In the inner face ofthe handle is formed a spring-seat 6 to receive the spring, hereinafterdescribed, and at the end of the spring-seat is formed a bridge 7, whichlimits the downward movement of the spring with its die and strengthensthe side extensions at their base. This bridge also constitutes astop-piece to prevent the seal-disk from slipping back under the springoit the die, and for that purpose it is made higher than the die, but ofa height less than the depth of the spring-seat, so that when the sealis placed Serial No. 309,865. (No model.)

between the dies the wires upon which it is strung may,if desired,Overlie the bridge and be not interfered with thereby, while the bridgewill still act as a stop to limit the down movement of the spring andthe inward movement of the seal. On the under part of the rigid jaw isformed a projection 8, constituting a hammer for such purposes as may bedesired in applying or removing the seal. The seal end of the rigid jawis formed with two upward projecting side extensions 9 l0, serving asguides to the vertical movement of the spring and as supports for thepivoted or clamping jaw.

B designates a spring having its end secured in the spring-seat of thehandle, as at l1, and extended reaches between the side extensions 9 l0,gradually increasing in thickness toward the free or seal end, where itis formed with a seal-seat 12, to which is secured a seal-die 13 by anyproper means. The free end of this spring is allowed sufficient verticalplay between the die on the rigid jaw and the roller when the jaws areopen to open or litt from the lower die to admit the seal-disk to becompressed. The dies are marked with such figures, letters, or othercharacters usual or desired.

C designates the Lipper handle and clamping-lever. The handle is of anysuitable term to be conveniently handled and terminates in a jaw-pieceMechambered out in its under face, as at l5,and has journaled in thechamber a roller lo'. This clamping-lever is journaled in the sideextensions 9 l0 by a slotpin 17, so as to give an eccentric orgraduallyincreasing pressure of the roller on the end of the spring andover the dies, and so that when the pressure of the grip is removed fromthe handles the force of the spring will exert itself to open thehandles and give space between the dies for the insertion ot aseal-disk. The introduction of the wheel in the clamping-lever,with thegradually-increasing pressure on the dies, reduces the wear of the partsto a minimum and provides a construction at once simple, durable, andefficient.

Having thus describedl my improvements, what I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article of manufacture, the

IOO

sealing-press` comprising the handle A, hav-- pi-voted betweenthe sideextensions!) 10 and having the recess 15, and the roller 16, jour- 15naled in said recess and bearing on and forming a cam to operate thespring, all arranged and constructed fo operate substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set zo rny hand in the presence oftwo attesting Witnesses.

ERWIN J. BRUCI-I. Attest:

CHAS. F. HANKE, L. W. SNYDER.

